A number of additional U.S. Jewish organizations weighed in on Tel Aviv anti-African migrant riots. Among those condemning the last week’s riots during a protest against the large numbers of Aftican migrants living in the city were the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, the New Israel Fund, the American Jewish Committee, J Street and the National…
Shimon Erem, who fought for Israel in four wars and was recognized as the “patriarch” of the Israeli community in Los Angeles, has died. Erem died May 27 in Los Angeles after a prolonged struggle with cancer. He was 90 years old. He was born Shimon Kazarnofsky in Kaunus, Lithuania in 1922 and was three…
Mitt Romney met with Sheldon Adelson, the casino magnate who took aim at Romney’s presidential campaign by substantially backing challenger Newt Gingrich. Romney, the former Massachusetts governor and likely Republican presidential candidate, met for 45 minutes Tuesday with casino mogul Adelson in Las Vegas, where Romney was to attend a fundraiser organized by celebrity Donald…
President Obama awarded the Medal of Freedom to Jan Karski, Madeleine Albright and Bob Dylan, among other recipients. Twelve of the 13 recipients received their medals in a ceremony Tuesday at the White House. Israeli President Shimon Peres will receive the medal in a separate event next month. Karski, who died in 2000, was a…
Haredi Orthodox extremists are suspected of causing irreparable damage to an ancient mosaic on the floor of a fourth century synagogue in Tiberias. Some of the mosaic tiles at the Hammat Tiberias synagogue in northern Israel were smashed into tiny pieces and other parts were deeply scratched in an attack that occurred between Monday night…
A group of leaders from the Conservative movement praised President Barack Obama after holding an informal meeting May 29 at the White House. The 20 Conservative rabbis and lay leaders, who also met with White House Chief of Staff Jack Lew, said Obama emphasized his support for Israel and deep “appreciation of Jewish tradition.” “He…
An Orthodox rabbinic group is requiring its members to use a prenuptial agreement in the weddings in which they participate. According to a resolution passed by The International Rabbinic Fellowship, its member rabbis may not officiate at or participate ritually in a wedding ceremony in which the man and woman have not signed a halachic…
In an unprecedented move, Israel has announced that it is prepared to recognize Reform and Conservative community leaders as rabbis and fund their salaries. Rabbis belonging to either stream will be classified as “rabbis of non-Orthodox communities.” The attorney general advised the High Court that the state will begin equally financing non-Orthodox rabbis in regional…
Pro-Palestinian activists protested against an Israeli theater company’s production of The Merchant of Venice at the Globe Theater in London. Monday night’s protests began outside the theater where dozens stood waving Palestinian flags and calling for a boycott of Israeli products, according to reports. Pro-Israeli activists mounted a counter-demonstration. Inside the theater, Palestinian protesters during…
The body of an American tourist missing since last week was discovered near Beit Shean in Israel. Herman Kuehn, 80, of Platte County, Missouri, got separated from his group on May 26, while visiting antiquities sites in Beit Shean. His body was discovered Tuesday in an industrial zone north of the city. There were no…
Congressman Barney Frank’s joke about a hoodie and a black recipient of an honorary degree fell flat at a college graduation. The crowd gasped as retiring Jewish congressman made the crack at the University of Massachusetts graduation, which honored civil rights leader Hubie Jones, the Daily News reported. “When you get an honorary degree they…
